Hollow block for reinforced-concrete floors.



F. BURCHARTZ.

HOLLOW BLOCK FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOORS. APPLICATION FILED 1AN.21. 1914.

1,21 9,532., Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

INVEN'TOR Film/Mm flu/fc/mrr:

W/T/VESSES FERDINAND BUBGHARTZ, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., ASSIGNOR 'ro BURCHAIRTZ FIBE- PRODFING' COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HOLLOW BLOCK FOR REINFORCED-CONCRETE FLOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

Application filed January 27, 1914. Serial No. 814,624.

vide a simple closu rewhereby the open ends of said blocks are nosed and a complete hollow block is readily produced and which is easily placed in operative position on the blocks. Other objects of my invention will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims. The present application is in part a continuation of my application Serial Number 586,608 filed October An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of one form of my improved block; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the closure; Fig. 3 is a per-' spective view of a slightly different form of block with a closure applied thereto; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the closure shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a two-way rein-- forced floor with one form of my improvement included therein and Fig. 6 is a detail section thereof on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1 the open ended block 10 is formed with flanges 11 extending along opposite lower edges and parallel with the major axis of the block, the said block having its two side walls each provided with an outwardly open recess or channel 12 extending lengthwise thereof and preferably of dove-tail shape as shown. In order that the open ends of the block 10 may be effectively closed in a simple manner against the entrance of concrete or other material I provide, for instance, the U-shaped closure shown in Fig. 2 and comprising the metal or other plate 1 3 and the side members 14 extending at an angle thereto. The said side members 14 are adapted to be inserted into the ends of opwill of above or below the up er or lower in connection with the block 10 posite recesses 12 so as to extend along the sides of the block and serve to maintain the plate 13 in contact with and across an open end of. the block, it being understood that said plate 13 is of a size to completely close the-end of the axial opening of said block and with no part extending either above or below the upper and lower surfaces of .the block. The side members 14 also lie entirely Within the recesses 12 and preferably frictionally engage the side walls of the block so as to maintain the plates 18 against accidental displacement in the direction of the axis of the block, the recesses-1 2 preventing any substantial movement of the closures in any direction transverse to said axis. It course be obvious that the recesses 12 need not extend throughout the entire length of the block but need only extend inwardly a suflicient distance from each end to properly receive the side members 14in such a manner that the plates 13 may be brought into contact with the ends of the block.

As shown in Fig. 4 the closure is so constructed that the'distance between the ends of the side members 14 is normally less than the horizontal transverse width of the block 10*, the resiliency of the material tending to maintain said members14 in and return them to this normal osition. In this form the closure is applied over the ends of the block 10 by springing the members 14 apart and then'moving the same lengthwise of said block until the plates 13 contact with an open end thereof. The resilient action of the members 14 will firmly clamp the closure in position to close the open ends of said block with no part thereof extending surface of said block as clearly s own in Fig. 3. It is of course to be understood that the closure shown in Fig. 4 may be used in connection with the block 10 of Fig. 1 and also that the closure illustrated in Fig. 2 may be utilized of Fig. 3 and in either case will form a complete closure for the axial openings of the blocks.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a section of a floor constructed of the blocks 10 and closures 13 -143. As illustrated the blocks are set up in rows with the axesof the blocks all extending in the same direction, the rows being spaced apart to form channels projecting in one direction and the ends in thesame way in which case the abutting flanges 11 of adjacent blocks will form means for spacing the blocks in'one direction and bottoms for one set of channels, while soffit pieces 15 may be utilized to space the ends of the blocks apart and form bottoms for the other set of channels. Either type of block and closure may be incorporated in a. floor with the axis of adjacent blocks extending at right angles to each other for instance, as shown in my application Serial Number 586,608 hereinbefore referred to. In whatever relation the said blocks are set up the channels are adapted to receive the usual tie rods 16 and are filled with concrete or other coalescent material to form intersecting beams, which material as before stated is prevented from entering the blocks 10 orlO by the closures 13 or 13 The closures shown and described herein are extremely simple irrconstruction and application and avoid the use of any metal clips or other extraneous means for maintaining them in position thus reducing the number of parts to a minimum and also reducing the labor necessary to completely construct floors and the like. The present type of closure may be constructed of any suitable material such as light metal or the like and in use avoid the'formation of any projections or protuberances on the upper or lower surfaces of the blocks and leave the same absolutely even. force tending to separate the metal closures from the blocks, the slightest pressure of the side members is sufficient to hold the closuresin position on the block over the open ends thereof.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim 1. A floor or ceiling construction comprising a plurality of open ended blocks spaced apart to form channels adapted to receive reinforcing rods and coalescent material,

. closures extending transversely of said blocks and beyond the peripheries of the end openings whereby the latter are completely covered and end members forming continuations of said closures at opposite ends there- As there is noforming continuations'of said closure at op- 115' of and extending along opposite surfaces of said blocks whereby said closures are maintained in position.

2. A floor or ceiling construction comprising a plurality of open ended blocks spaced apart to form channels adapted to receive reinforcing rods and coalescent material, closures extending transversely of said blocks and beyond the'peripheries of the end openings whereby the latter are completely covered and resilient end members forming continuations of said closures at opposite ends thereof and arranged to grip two opposite surfaces of said blocks whereby said closures are maintained in position.

3. A floor or ceiling construction comprising a plurality of open ended blocks spaced apart toform channels adapted to receive reinforcing rods and coalescent material, projections extending lengthwise of each block in proximity to opposite edges of said blocks and having undercut surfaces whereby single dove-tail recesses are formed on opposite surfaces of each block, closures in. surface engagement with the ends of said blocks and extending across. the open ends thereof to close the same and end members forming continuations of said closures at opposite ends thereof and fitting into said dove-tail recesses to maintain the closures inposition. v

4. The combination of an open vended block, a closure in surface engagement with an end face of said block and closing an open end'thereof and members forming continuations of said closure at opposite ends thereof and extending along opposite surfaces of said block to maintain said closure in position, the distance between the free ends of said members being normally less than the distance between the opposite surfaces of the block engaged thereby.

5. A floor or ceiling unit comprising. an open ended block, projections extending in pairs along opposite surfaces of said block in proximity to opposite edges thereof and having undercut surfaces whereby a single dove-tail recess is formed on each of said opposite surfaces, a closure in surface engagement with an end face of said block and closing an open end thereof and members posite'ends thereof and extending into said dove-tail recesses to maintain said closure in position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses;

FERDINAND BURCHARTZ.

Witnesses CARL ROTH, WALTER Serum... 

